Alice K. “Sister” Waters of Blowing Rock, North Carolina and Lake Wales, Florida, died at home in Blowing Rock on July 19, 2025. She was 91 years old.
A 4th generation Floridian, she was born in Jacksonville in 1934. As a little girl, she was known both for making mischief and for being an excellent student. Skipping two grades, she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1951, her childhood love for the baton earning her the role of head majorette.
She attended University of Florida and afterwards worked for Motors Insurance Corp. in Jacksonville. There she met John Charles Waters of Alachua, who became the love of her life.
The couple married in 1954 and moved to Orlando five years later. Alice volunteered as a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher at Lannis’ elementary school, and taught baton twirling to girls with the school’s marching band. She was active in PTA, becoming president of Pine Hills and Hiawassee elementary schools’ PTA – she started Hiawassee’s PTA.
Meanwhile, Alice developed what could only be called a passion for Robert’s Rules of Order. She was parliamentarian of Orange County Council PTA, corresponding secretary of the state PTA, and a member of the Parliamentary Law Unit of Winter Park. She even taught high school students parliamentary law. It all culminated in life memberships to the National Association of Parliamentarians and National PTA.
Alice helped establish Pine Castle Center for the Arts, and was president and organizer of the Art Center’s volunteer association.
Then in 1976, the family moved to Babson Park. There, she was on the board of the Lake Wales Art Center and was active in the Lake Wales Women’s Club.
For a long time she helped organize the Pegasus Krewe for the annual Mardi Gras parade in Lake Wales; she was chosen as Queen of Pegasus, and Queen of Carnival.
Then, in 1985, her beloved John died. He was only 60; they were building a cabin in Blowing Rock. Alone, Alice moved to Blowing Rock. Until the end of her life, except for the snowiest months when she escaped to Lake Wales, she lived there on her own, building roaring fires herself when the temperature dipped.
She enjoyed the mountains immensely, often picnicking with friends or family along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Over time she became increasingly involved in politics. She was a member of Watauga County Republican Women’s Club, served many years on the party’s executive committee, and ran the county Republican headquarters during elections. She was honored by the Congressional District 5 Republican Party with the Above and Beyond award, the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women Tribute to Women and by the GOP Executive Committee as a district nominee to the Republican State Hall of Fame. She specifically requested that it be noted that “she jokingly gave pole dance lessons to her friends, mostly ladies from the Republican Women’s Club.”
Alice had a large group of close friends, whose love and support kept her life full, and enabled her to continue living independently on her own terms. A special group of women who gathered at her home each Wednesday for coffee were particularly dear to her, and brightened each week.
She noted that she “loved traveling, good fun, and her family, especially granddaughters Martha and Alice.” She also loved to dance until a few years ago, and was a good dancer, including line dancing.
Alice Kirkland Waters was born January 6, 1934 in Jacksonville. She was predeceased by her beloved husband John C. Waters, her parents Ruby Messer and Van Buren Kirkland, and brother G. Van B. Kirkland, who died in Hurricane Katrina. She is survived by her son Lannis Waters (Michelle Genz) of Vero Beach, granddaughters Martha of London, England and Alice of Charlotte, NC, and their mother Liz Best of Carrboro, NC.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 31 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales, followed by interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Orlando at 3pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Nashville, TN.
